I've got an XR650L but it is in no way set up for carrying camping gear. i was pumped about the original route too. Haven't been to Leslie Gultch before or down south of Steens Mtn much. Still watching plan "B" evolve but if there is still a plan "A" group I'm up for that too and am in the Portland area so going over Hood at the start is not a problem.

Camping at Mitchell City Park is now Motorhome only...no tents! Those bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!! there are two free campgrounds just south of Dayville along the Southfork. I think the first is 5 miles in and the next is around 15 miles in.

That city park has a biiiiiiig plus it's close to cold beer. Also a big minus it's too close to the highway 26 road noise all night long. Maybe if you drink enough the road noise won't matter so much.

That city park has a biiiiiiig plus it's close to cold beer. Also a big minus it's too close to the highway 26 road noise all night long. Maybe if you drink enough the road noise won't matter so much.

Ride hard enough all day, Drink enough in the evening and you'll sleep through anything. Sucks they said no to tents now. Food, beer, booze, super clean bathrooms and fuel all within a stones throw of nice shaded flat spots.

I've got an XR650L but it is in no way set up for carrying camping gear. i was pumped about the original route too. Haven't been to Leslie Gultch before or down south of Steens Mtn much. Still watching plan "B" evolve but if there is still a plan "A" group I'm up for that too and am in the Portland area so going over Hood at the start is not a problem.

The time off is booked. I'm going somewhere...

Doug

You can haul anything on an XR. The entire route is 990 friendly. It will just get a bit dirty.

I'm with you AJ the Madras to Ashwood to Gosner over to the painted hills is one ride I could do over and over and enjoy the hell out of it every time. Just did the Trout Creek Road last week and saw one truck.

Last time I did Gosner rd we met one truck also. It contained two ranch women who were making it for town.

I'm a big fellow and just about max out the GVWR of the XR by myself. That and the fact that I have no hard or soft bags for it mean I'd have to bungie some of it on the tail rack and carry all the rest of it in a backpack make the 990 ADV with its Gobi bags and large luggage plate for my dry bag sound much more appealing. if the route is not too knarly I'll ride the 990 anywhere but I do recognize that fully loaded it won't go where my 650 will go. Keep working the A and B plans and we'll see what sticks.

Mitchell oregon, head south towards Dollarhide Ponds, campng available, or ride souther than that to the secret campground on the road south,,outside of Prineville to the east,,Big Summit work center camp ,,nice spot!..roads from there,,to,,well ,,anywhere south,, good water, no peeple, good fishin' in the stream right there,,roads link to anywhere in the state!

I'm with you AJ the Madras to Ashwood to Gosner over to the painted hills is one ride I could do over and over and enjoy the hell out of it every time. Just did the Trout Creek Road last week and saw one truck.

Didja make it through on Trout Creek all the way to Prineville, through the Ochoco? How were all the 8 or so creek crossings?

__________________
.."got no problem with keeping truly roadless areas as wild....On the other hand, if it has been logged or mined and roads already exist,,...then that land should be open for public use" (peterman)

Didja make it through on Trout Creek all the way to Prineville, through the Ochoco? How were all the 8 or so creek crossings?

None of the water crossing were a problem. The first one is kind of long but the first 70 or 80 % of it is only 4 or 5 inches deep and the last 15 feet is deeper. ( gun it) The next 3 or 4 are not very wide and less than a foot deep. The road was clear all the way through except we ran into snow on the old military road when we went past the lucky strike mine area. Could not make it out to the highway at the summit of Ochoco pass. We detoured down past Steins Pillar to 26 and then headed east on 26.
The next time we get together AJ remind me to tell you the story of the next days ride from Delintment lake back to Prineville Reservoir.

I've got an XR650L but it is in no way set up for carrying camping gear. i was pumped about the original route too. Haven't been to Leslie Gultch before or down south of Steens Mtn much. Still watching plan "B" evolve but if there is still a plan "A" group I'm up for that too and am in the Portland area so going over Hood at the start is not a problem.

The time off is booked. I'm going somewhere...

Doug

Haven't mapped it out in detail yet, but here's the general idea of what I have in mind:

1. Over Santiam Pass to Camp Sherman. Back roads to Madras, then To Painted Hills via Ashford Rd. camp at one of the campgrounds on forest rd 12 or 42,: east of Mitchell. About 250 miles for us from Spfld, at least 75 of gravel.
2. Back roads, some gravel, to Burns, then south on 205 to Frenchglen. Rock Creek road to Hart Mtn Hot Springs for the night. About 200 mi., maybe 60 on gravel.
3. To Plush and then north on Hogback Rd, then XL Ranch Road thru Fandango Canyon to Christmas Lake. Camp ate Green Mtn Lookout. About 175 mi., mostly gravel.
4. Gravel to Hole in the Ground, then highway for home...

If you're into a spirited pace and/or want to cover some distance, you prolly want to stick with the Plan A guys. Not that I plan to poke along, I'm just not going to be in any hurry... 60 is about the max practical speed on the DRZ so we're clearly not going to break any endurance or distance records. If I were on my GS this would drive me crazy...

Still planning on leaving Spfld around 10am on Thursday.

__________________Kevinjust beneath the surface of the mud, there's more mud here... Surprise.

Scott_pdx and rockyroad, what's the word on plan A? I liked plan A and will be on my 990 ADV wherever I go. Not set up to camp off the 650. Plan B still sounds like fun but 60 MPH top speed might drive me crazy or put me to sleep like V-Duck says.

Scott_pdx and rockyroad, what's the word on plan A? I liked plan A and will be on my 990 ADV wherever I go. Not set up to camp off the 650. Plan B still sounds like fun but 60 MPH top speed might drive me crazy or put me to sleep like V-Duck says.

Doug

Still planning on the A-Route, leaving Thrusday morning and heading east from Portland to meet Rocky Road near Welches. From there we'll eventually get on V-Ducks route near Prinveville (Want to see those Painted Hills!). From there plan to follow V-Ducks original route. Might modify Sunday's route home a bit, since were not ending up in Eugene (I hope ;).

21397528[/URL]]Still planning on the A-Route, leaving Thrusday morning and heading east from Portland to meet Rocky Road near Welches. From there we'll eventually get on V-Ducks route near Prinveville (Want to see those Painted Hills!). From there plan to follow V-Ducks original route. Might modify Sunday's route home a bit, since were not ending up in Eugene (I hope ;).

Have you done the Ashwood to Horse Heaven & Cherry Creek Ranch Route yet, Scott?
It's very much right on the way to the Painted Hills....

MUST DO!!

__________________
.."got no problem with keeping truly roadless areas as wild....On the other hand, if it has been logged or mined and roads already exist,,...then that land should be open for public use" (peterman)

Have you done the Ashwood to Horse Heaven & Cherry Creek Ranch Route yet, Scott?
It's very much right on the way to the Painted Hills....

MUST DO!!

Thanks AJ. Are those "Overloaded Big Bike" friendly routes? I'll have to dig out the Benchmark tonight (XR_doug, let me know if you want to look at maps this evening since we're practically neighbors evidentally).

Love reading other's reports and looking at their pictures, so will do my best to capture the story for you V-Duck since you set up this gig in the first place. Make me jealous of your "B-Route" adventure!